Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has received a new administrative head following the elevation of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu to the Supreme Court. The Union Government on Monday announced the appointment of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra as the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court.
The appointment was formalised through a notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice. Exercising powers under Article 223 of the Constitution, the President of India authorised Justice Mishra to discharge the responsibilities of the Chief Justice’s office until a regular appointment is made.
The move comes in the wake of Justice Sheel Nagu’s elevation to the apex court, which resulted in a vacancy at the top judicial post in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Under constitutional provisions, an Acting Chief Justice is appointed to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of the court during such transitions.
Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra joined the Punjab and Haryana High Court on July 21, 2025, after being transferred from the Allahabad High Court, where he had served for more than a decade.
Born on November 16, 1968, Justice Mishra completed his undergraduate studies in Economics at Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, before obtaining a law degree from the Campus Law Centre of the same university.
He enrolled as an advocate in May 1993 and built a substantial legal practice, particularly in civil, constitutional and service law matters. During his years at the Bar, he represented a range of public institutions and statutory authorities, including development bodies, public sector undertakings and state agencies. He also appeared on behalf of the Uttar Pradesh government in several significant cases.
Recognising his legal expertise, he was designated as a Senior Advocate in 2013. In February 2014, he was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court and was confirmed as a permanent judge in 2016.
Justice Mishra remained with the Allahabad High Court until his transfer to Punjab and Haryana in 2025. During his judicial tenure, he was associated with several important rulings, including a judgment related to the widely discussed Nithari serial killings case.
Since joining the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Mishra has been part of benches that have delivered notable decisions on constitutional and service law issues. He has also taken a firm stance in matters concerning illegal mining, issuing orders aimed at curbing unlawful extraction activities.
With his appointment as Acting Chief Justice, Justice Mishra will now oversee the administration and judicial functioning of one of the country’s busiest High Courts while the process for appointing a permanent Chief Justice moves forward.
